Machine for joining the overlapping ends of cinematographic films



April 15 1924. 1,490,286

R. MIEHLING MACHINE FOR JOINING THE OVERLAPPING ENDS 0F CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed April 9, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 15 1924.

1,490,286 R. MIEHLING MACHINE FOR JOINING THE OVERLAPPING ENDS OF CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed April 9, 1921 2 Sheets$heet 2 Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

I UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

RUDOLPH MIEHLING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOHN J. BO'I'L OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR JOINING- T'HE OVERLAIPING ENDS OF CINEMATOGRALPHIG FILMS.

I Application filed April 9,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUDOLPH MIEHLING,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Machine for Joining the Overlapping Ends of Cinematographic Films, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of machines known in the art of cinematographic films, as film patching machines in which the ends of the film overlap to form a patch.

I am aware that machines have been constructed whereby the ends of the film after having been cut with scissors by hand, are placed between clamping devices, the emulsion removed from the end or ends of the film, the end or ends of the film then coated with a binding cement by hand, and the two ends of the film then placed one'upon the other by hand, in a clamping devlce and held under pressure.

I am also aware that it has been proposed to out both ends of the film together at one operation, then separate the film, and butt the ends together, end for end, and apply a separate cemented strip over the intervening space and unite the two ends under pressure.

But these devices are not the equivalent of my invention, which consists broadly in cutting both ends of the film positively and simultaneously a prescribed length, so that when one end is treated with a binding cement, and the ends are brought into con tact with each other the overlapped ends will insure a perfect joint of film in all respects, and have the appearance of one continuous length of film; also in so constructing the device that both ends of the film are held positively and independently of each other during the operation of cutting and cementing.

An incidental feature of my invention consists of embodying a scraping device suitably mounted upon the machine and being adapted to be operated by hand for the purpose of removing the emulsion from the film.

The invention also includes minor details 1921. Serial No. 459,984.

of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying. drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan of my improved machine;

Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3, a front elevation, showing the clamping devices raised and in'an upright position;

Fig. 4, a side elevation of the machine lirhe parts being in the position shown in Fig. 5, a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 6, a horizontal cross section taken upon plane of line 6-6 Fig. 1;

Fig. 7, a sectional detail elevation taken upon plane of line 77 Fig. 1, showing the film ends in position;

Fig. 8, a partial sectional detail view upon an enlarged scale to more clearly illustrate the arts in the position they assume just prior to the cutting operation;

Fig. 9, a similar view showing the parts in their relation to each other after the ends of the film have been cut;

Fig. 10, a similar view to Fig. 6, upon an enlarged scale to more clearly show the overlapping of the ends of the film;

Fig. 11, apartial plan view of the machine, showing a scraper attached to one of the clamps;

Fig. 12, a sectional detail view showing the relation of the scraper with the end of of the film;

Fig. 13, a sectional detail elevation upon plane of line 13-13 Fig. 11, the scraper being shown in its relative position with relation to the anvil;

Fig. 14, a similar view, the scraper being shown as thrown back out of the way and in the position shown in Fig. 11.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown my improved machine mounted upon a wooden base A, or other suitable material, having the receptacles A, A mounted thereon for holding water and binding cement respectively, and in Fig. 1, I have shown a depression A, in the base A, for holding a scraper or knife S.

The base I), of the machine, together with its lugs 6', b b and anvil B, is preferably made in one piece, and may be secured to the wooden base A, by any suitable means as by screws 0, a, shown in dotted lines, Figs. 2 and 3.

The upper surface of the anvil B, is'provided with teeth 6', b, for engaging with the sprocket holes 7, in the film F.

A pin or shaft C, is mounted in the lugs b, b b, one end of which is formed with a screw thread 0, which engages with a female screw thread in the lug b',the other end being formed with a head 0.

The clan?) D, is mounted upon the in C, by means 0 a knuckle d, at its rear en and rests between the lugs 1), b This knuckle is also formed with a cam surface u, shown in dotted lines Fig. 3, which bears against a tension leaf spring S, secured to the underside of the anvil B. The knuckle d, is also formed with a flat bearing surface (i so that when the clamp D, is raised at right angles to the anvil B", it will rest upon the spring S, and be held securely in that position until again brought forward.

The clamp D, is also provided with a handle (P, at its, front end to facilitate the raising and lowering of the same with relation to the stationary anvil B.

A movable anvil or platen B is mounted upon the pin C, between the lugs 6 b the rear endof which is formed with the knuckles d", 03, having the cam bearing surfaces d, d", and fiat surfaces (1, d, for the purpose described, and which rest upon the leaf spring S, when the platen D is raised.

Projecting from the upper side of this movable platen D are pins or teeth d, d", for engaging in the sprocket holes 7, formed in the film F. A handle d", is provided at the outer end of the platen D, for convenience in raising and lowering the same.

A sto b, projecting outward from the inner si e of the anvil B, limits the downward movement of the movable platen D The clamp D, is mounted upon the in C, its rear end being formed with a knuc le d, having a cam bearing surface (1 and flat bearing surface 11'", which rests upon the leaf spring S when raised,said knuckle (1, being centered between the knuckles d", d, of the movable platen D. The clamp D, is also provided with a handle d, at its front end for convenience in raising and lowering the same.

A recess (1", formed in the outer edge of the clamp D, for the reception of the rock bearing'surface arm d, which is pivoted centrally and rocks on the screw stud d, the inner end of which is formed with a screw thread and is fastened by this means to the clamp D. This recess d, is slightly larger than the rocking arm (i so as to allow said arm to rock freely therein, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 7.

The rocking arm d, projects slightly below the lower surface of the clamp D, so

B, formed on the stationary anvil B, to-- gether with the edge (1, formed on the upper surface of the clamp D, cut the opposite ends of the film F, in one operation as will be more fully and clearly explained.

The recesses 03*, d", d, d, formed on the undersides of the clamps D, D, fit over the teeth b, projecting from the upper surface of the stationary anvil B, and the teeth d, on the movable platen D thereby protecting the same when the parts are brought together.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 3, of the drawings, one end of the film F, being placed over the teeth d, d, in the exact position in which the patch is to be made, upon the movable platen D the clamp D, is brought forward into position with relation to the platen D its inner surface resting firmly upon the film F, and holding the same positively in position by reason of the tension of the spring S, on the cam surfaces of the said clamps. The movable platen D and clamp D, are then raised together by means of the handles d", d, at right angles to the stationary anvil B, and held in this position by reason of their inner flat surfaces (2, d", bearing and resting upon the spring S.

The other end of the film is then placed in the exact position it is desired to be out upon the teeth I), b, on the upper surface of the stationary anvil B, the clamp D, being brought forward by means of its handle (Z and resting upon the film F, and holding the same positively in position by reason of the rear end d, resting upon the spring S.

The clamp D, and platen D are then brought forward and downward together, the knife edge d, formed on the underside of the platen D coming in close contact with the upper edge B, of the anvil B, and acting in conjunction therewith in severing the surplus film F, held between them, and at the same time the knife edge d, on the rocker arm 0?, coming in close contact with the upper edge (Z of the clamp D, also severs the surplus film F, held between the platen D and the clamp D, the downward movement of the parts being limited by the stop I), on the anvil B. The clamp D and platen D are then raised together at right angles to the angle B, one end of the severed film F, being still retained between them.

It will thus be seen that only a suflicient surface of the film to be treated is exposed which may be applied by a brush held in the water rece tacle A, and then scraped oil by means of t 1e scraper S, the side (1, of the clamp D, acting as a guiding surface and allowing only the required surface of emulsion being removed. Or as shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14, the scraper S, mounted on the rod 8, supported in the lugs s, s, projecting from the upper side of the clamp D, may be used with like effect, the scraper S, being thrown back out of the way when it is desired to raise the clamp D, or bring the clamp D, forward, as shown in Figs. 11 and 14.

The required amount of emulsion having been removed from one end of the film by means of the scrapers, the binding cement is now applied to that end of the film, by means of a brush held in the receptacle A, for holding the material, the edge d, of the clamp D, again acting as a guiding surface, limiting and preventing the flow of any excess of cement upon the film F.

The clamp D, with its rocker bearing surface d, together with the platen D, is then brought forward and downward until they come in contact with the stop I)", on the anvil B. The clamps D, D, are then raised and the finished film removed.

It is to be understood that the clamps D, D, and laten D are always under the tension of t e leaf spring S, by reason of their rear ends resting continuously and being in contact with said spring durin all the operations of the machine. It wil be noted that the clamp designated D and the platen D are superimposed one on the other and are movable together or independently, the rocker arm djserving as a cutter o erating in conjunction with the cuttin e go of the platen to sever the two ends 0 the film sections simultaneously.

It will be seen that the rocker bearing surface d, is free to adapt itself to any varia tions of thickness arising from the placing of a surplus of cement upon the end of the film, or to any unevenness of the ends of the film itself when overlapped, by reason of the said bearing surface being under pressure of the leaf spring S.

It will thus be seen that I provide a machine whereby the ends of the film may be quickly and conveniently patched or matched together, and that the patch so made will be accurate and in alignment, by reasonof the ends of the film having been cut and treated to a prescribed distance with relation to each other.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is,

1. A film splicing machine comprising a clamp to hold an end of a film, an anvil acting in conjunction with a platen in the severance of the film, and a clamp and platen moi-ably mounted tomove in unison or independently and adapted to clamp the adjacent end of a film and to sever both ends simultaneously, and a rocker-arm carried by said clamp.

2. A film splicing machine comprising a clamp to hold an end of a. film, a clampand platen movably mounted to move in unison or independently and adapted to clamp the adjacent end of a. film and to sever both ends simultaneously, and a rocker arm carried by the last-named clamp.

3. A film splicing machine comprising a clamp to hold an end of a film, a clamp and platen movably mounted to move in unison or independently and adapted to clamp the adjacent end of a film and to sever both ends simultaneously, a rockerarm carried by one of said clamps, and an anvil having a portion to expose only" sufficient surface of the film to be treated and scraped.

4. A film splicing machine comprising a clamp to hold an. end of a film, a clamp and platen movably mounted to move in unison or independently and adapted to clamp the adjacent end of a film and to sever both ends simultaneously, a rockerarm carried by one of said clamps, and resilient means for at all times keeping said clamps and platen under tension.

5. A film splicing machine comprising a clamp to hold an end of a film, a clamp and platen movably mounted to move in unison or independently and adapted to clampthe adjacent end of a film and to sever both ends simultaneously, a rocker arm carried by the last-named clamp, and resilient means for at all times keeping said clamps and platen under tension.

6. A film joining machine comprising a. base, apair of relatively movable members on said base for pressing a film. one of said members having" a cutting edge, and aplaten movable with the last-named member and having a cutting edge.

7. A film joining machine comprising a base, a pair of relatively movable members on said base for pressing a film, one of said members having a cutting edge, a platen movable with the last-named member and having a cutting edge, and a rocker arm on said last named member.

8. .A film joining machine comprising a base, a pair of relatively movable members on said base for pressing a film, one of said members having a cutting edge, a platen movable with the last-named member and having a cutting edge, and means to apply cement to a film face.

9. A fihn splicing machine comprising a clamp to hold an end of a film, a clamp and platen movably mounted to move in unison or independently and adapted to platen relatively-movable and also movable clamp the adjacent end of a film and to sever both ends simultaneously, an anvil having a portion to expose only suffiicient surface of the film to be treated and scraped, and a pivotally-mounted scraper movable into contact with a film on such portion of the anvil.

10. 'A film joining machine comprising a base, a pair of relatively movable members on said base for pressmg a film, one of said members havm a cutting edge, a platen movable with t elast-named member and having a cutting edge, and a spring for keeping said members under tension.

11. A film joining machine comprising a.

base, a movable clamp a second clamp, a platen relatively-movable and also movable simultaneously with said second clamp and a rocking member cooperating with one of said clamps.

12. A film joining machine comprising a base, a movable clamp, a second clamp, a

with the said second clamp, a rocking member cooperating with one of said clamps i5 and means for keeping said clamps an platen under tension.

13. A film joining machine comprising a base, a pair of relatively movable members on said base, for pressing a film, one of said members having a cutting edge, a platen movable with said last-named member and having a cutting edge and a rocker arm on said last-member, said rocker arm projecting below the lower surface of the said clamp.

14. A film joining machine, comprising a base, a movable clamp, a second clamp, and a platen relatively movable and also movable simultaneously with said second clamp, and a rocking member cooperating with one of said clamps, saidsecond clamp being superimposed upon said platen.

RUDOLPH MIEHLING.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. Borr, KATHERINE J. Orr. 

